Photo By Spc. Destinee Rodriguez | Good Neighbor awardees (left to right): Rudolf Leykauf, Fritz Wittman, Stefan...... read more read more
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GRAFENWOEHR, Germany—The 7th Army Training Command recognized seven Bavarians for their support to the U.S. military community during a ceremony April 7, 2022 for the second-annual “Good Neighbor Award.”
“It’s a very small way for us to recognize what makes serving here in Bavaria special – the Bavarian people,” said Brig. Gen. Joseph E. Hilbert, 7th ATC’s commanding general.
All U.S. Army units stationed in Bavaria were asked to provide nominations for Bavarians who, through their efforts, increased the quality of life for U.S. Army Soldiers, civilians and their families. There are over 40 official partnerships between units stationed in Bavaria and the towns and cities in the surrounding areas. This year’s honorees included a mix of current and former mayors, city council members and private citizens.
Pegnitz Mayor Wolfgang Nierhoff, Hohenfels former Mayor Bernhard Graf and Grafenwoehr former Mayor Helmuth Wӓchter were all honored for their continuous partnerships with the Americans residing within their communities.
“To see what [our friendship] means to the Americans is a great honor,” said Nierhoff. “The U.S. has always been a reliable partner in guaranteeing peace and democracy.”
Stefan Hornsdasch, the deputy county commissioner for Ansbach, was appointed the official partnership liaison of Herrieden in 2018 and has since organized events to bring Germans and Americans together and strengthen his community’s relationship with U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach.
Fritz Wittman, a retired German sergeant major, has been a cornerstone in the Oberdachstaetten community when it comes to German-American relations. For over 30 years, Wittman has organized German-American competitions and joint training. He also helped establish and curate, the Muna Military Museum which highlights both U.S. and German military history.
Rudolf Leykauf worked as a civilian employee for the U.S. Army for 46 years in the Ansbach area. In that time, he assisted more than 3,000 Soldiers and their families as they moved and relocated in Germany, organized base security with host nation support after 9/11 and received his 40 years of service award. In his retirement, Leykauf continues to host German-American dinners and facilitate the integration of U.S. Army service members into local German communities.
Alois Friedl served as a firefighter for both his local community and USAG-Bavaria since 1982. In May 2020, Freidl suffered severe injuries after a fall while conducting a high-altitude rescue operation of a stranded paratrooper. Even with his injuries, Freidl did not seek aid until all American personnel were safe and in medical care. Though his injuries might have prevented him from returning to his fireman service, Friedl continued to volunteer his skills and knowledge at U.S. Army events as a medical first responder.
“These nominations tell a great story of not only friendship, but of literally thousands of hours of time you’ve each put in on behalf of the American community here in Bavaria,” said Hilbert. “Thank you all again for everything you’ve done, and continue to do, to make serving in Bavaria the envy of everyone in our Army.”
| Date Taken: | 04.07.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 04.11.2022 08:06 |
| Story ID: | 418228 |
| Location: | GRAFENWOEHR, DE |
| Web Views: | 160 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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